Fastener for cord bracelets, etc.



June 18, 1929. .c MEALY 1,717,574

FASTENER FOR CORD BRACELETS, ETC

FiledJuly 5, 1928 Patented June 18, 1929.

UNITED, STATESv 1,717,574 PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES MEALY, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE HADLEY COMPANY, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE" ISLAND, A CORPORATION OF RHODE ISLAND.

FASTENER FOR CORD BRACELETS, ETC.

Application filed m 5, 1928. Serial 1%. 290,302.

This invention relates to fasteners for in terconnecting the ends of cords, straps, ribbons, etc., and more particularly to devices for interconnecting the free ends of looped cords of watch bracelets and the like where the ends are often frayed and diflicult to insert and hold. The principal objects of the invention are to provide a fastener which is compact and attractive in appearance, which facilitates the insertion of a cord or the like when frayed, which grips the cord securely and substantially conceals the frayed ends, and which is simple and convenient in operation.

To illustrate the genus of the invention a preferred species is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are front, side and rear views respectively; and

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are central longitudinal sections of the hollow holder and associated link hereinafter referred to, showing the parts in various positions of adjustment.

The particular embodiment of the invention chosen for the purpose of illustration comprises two looped cords 2 for attachment to the watch or the like, split rings 4 surrounding the eords and sliding thereon, a central link 5, and end links or holders 6 interconnecting the central link with the free ends of the looped cords 2 respectively. The central link 5 may be of any suitable construction, the link shown in the drawings being of the well-known type having a swinging cover 8 which when lifted permits the next link to the left (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) to be detached therefrom.

The end links 6, which are shown in detail in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, each comprises a hollow holder having a front 9 and sides 10, the outer end 7 being opened to receive the free ends of one of the looped cords. The holder is pivoted to the central link 5 by means of cars 12 which form integral continuations of the front 9 and are bent around the pin 13. Pivoted to the pin 13 intermediate the hooks 12 is a link 14 having a portion 15 of reduced width hooking under the pin. The other end of the link 14 is bent inwardly at right angles the link.

to form a cord gripper 11 which preferably,

A lever 16 formed of sheet metal is provided with lateral extensions bent at right angles to form legs 17 which straddle the link 14 and have openings therein to receive the aforesaid lugs, thereby pivotally to interconnect the lever with the link. The lever is provided with cams comprising rises 18 and dwells 19, the latter being approximately concentric with the pivot openings. The width of the lever is preferably substantially equal to the interior width of the hollow holder so that the lever when closed fits snugly between the sides 10, the link 14 being somewhat narrower to accommodate the legs 17 between the link and the sides of the holder when the parts are in closed position.

The holders 6 are each provided with abutment means in the form of flanges 20 bent inwardly at right angles from the rear edges of the sides 10 near the open end 7. These flanges are located to engage the legs 17 when the link and lever are swung from the posi tion shown in Fig. 4 toward closed position. lVhen the lever first engages the flanges, as shown in Fig. 5, further inward pressure on the link 14 automatically swings the lever in a counterclockwise direction until the rises 18 engage the inner edge 21 of the flanges whereupon force applied to the lever in a counterclockwise direction (Figs. 4, 5 and 6) forces the link and lever to the positions shown in Fig. 6 wherein the cord 2 is firmly clamped against the front 9 of the holder. When the rises 18 of the cams contact with the flanges 20 the flanges also function as cams until the rises pass the edges of the flanges. Thus it will be evident that the short end of the lever and the link together constitute a toggle which passes dead-center position when the pivotal interconnection be tween the link and lever passes the plane which includes the axis 13 and the points of interengagement between the lever and the flanges 20. As shown in Fig. 6 the flanges 20 preferably are so located that the rises of the cams pass beyond'the edges 21 (to the left of the edges in Fig. 6) before the parts reach closed'position, thereby assisting the toggle action in holding'the parts in closed position. As shown in Fig. 3 the link and lever are wholly confined to the space defined by the planes of the sides 10; and as shown in Fig. 6 the link and lever are located wholly between the sides 10 when in closed position so that'no portion of either part propzcts beyond the plane of the rear edges of the sides this improved fastener not only grips the ends of the cords tightly, but it facilitates the insertion of the ends and'affords quick and convenient opening and closing of the cord clamp. It will also 'be noted that the pivot for the link 13 also serves as the pivot between the link 5 and holder 6 and that the pivotal interconnection between the link 5 and hold er 6 closes the end of the holder opposite to the open end 12 so that the frayed ends of the cord are substantially enclosed when the parts are in the position shown in Fig.6.

I claim:

1. A fastener comprising a hollow holder having a front and sides and open at one end to receive a cord or the like, a link pivoted to the holder at the opposite end and having a cord gripping edge, a lever pivoted to the link near one end, and abutment means extending from said sides at least partially across the back of the holder, the short end of the lever engaging behind said means when the lever is moved from open toward closed position so that the link and lever constitute a toggle movable past dead-center position as the lever is swung to closed position. I

2. A fastener comprising a hollow holder having a front and sides and open at one end to receive a cord or the like, a link pivoted to the holder at the opposite end and having a cord gripping edge, a lever pivoted to the link near one end, and abutment means extending from said sides at least partially across the back of the holder, the short end of the lever having a cam engaging behind said means when the lever is moved from open toward closed position, the rise of the cam moving beyond theedge of said abutment means as the lever approaches closed position, thereby to assist in holding the parts in closed position. I

r 3. A fastener comprising a hollow holder having a front and sides and open at one end to receive a cord or the like, a link pivoted to the holder at the opposite end and having a cord gripping edge, a lever pivoted to the link near one end, and abutment means extending from said sides at least partially across the back of the holder, said link and lever lying substantially wholly between said sides when in closed position.

4. A fastener comprising a hollow holder having a front and sides and an open end to receive a cord or the like, inturned flanges on the rear edge of said sides near said open end, a link pivoted on said holder remote from said open end to swing about an axis transverse of said sides, an inwardly directed cord gripper associated with said link, a lever pivoted to said link to swing about an axis parallel to said axis, the short end of the lever having cam surfaces engaging behind said flanges and the pivotal connection between link and lever passing dead-center when the lever is moved from open toward closed position.

5. A fastener comprising a hollow holder having a front and sides and an open end to receive a cord or the like, inturned flanges on the rear edges of said sides near said open end, a link pivoted on said holder remote from said open end to swing about an axis transverse of said sides, an inwardly directed cord gripper associated with said link, a lever pivoted to said link to swing about ap axis parallel to said axis, the short end of the lever having cam surfaces engaging behind said flanges and the pivotal connection between link and lever passing dead-center when the lever is moved from open toward closed position, said link and lever being confined to the region between the planes of said sides.

6. A fastener comprising a hollow holder having a front and sides and an open end to receive a cord or the like, inturned flanges on the rear edges of said sides near said open end, a link pivoted on said holder remote from said open end to swing about an axis transverse of said sides, an inwardly directed cord gripper associated with said link, a lever pivoted to said link to swing about an axis parallel to said axis, the short end of the lever having cam surfaces engaging behind said flanges and the pivotal connection between link and lever passing dead-center when the lever is moved from open toward closed position, said lever having surfaces.

engaging the outer faces of said flanges when the link is swung inwardly with the lever extended, thereby automatically to swing said cam surfaces behind the flanges.

7. A fastener comprising a hollow holder having a front and sides and an open end to receive a cord or the like, abutment means extending from said sides at least partially across the back of the holder near said open end, a link pivoted at one end on said holder remote from-said open end to swing about an axis transverse of said sides, the other end of the link-being turned in to grip the cord, and a sheet-metal lever having lateral extensions bent at right angles to form legs which straddle the link and are pivoted thereto and have cam surfaces engaging behind said abutment means when the lever is moved from open toward closed position.

8. A fastener comprising a hollow holder having a front and sides and, an open end to receive a cord or the like, abutment means extending from said sides at least partially across the back of the holder near said open end, a link pivoted at one end on said holder remote from said open end to swing about an axis transverse of said sides, the other end of the link being turned in to grip the cord,

a sheet-metal lever having lateral extensions bent at right angles to form legs which straddle the link and are pivoted thereto and have cam surfaces enga 'ng behind said abutment means when the ever is moved from open toward closed position, said abutment means bein positioned to engage said legs when the link is swung inwardly with the l'everv ex-- tended, thereby automatically to swing said cam surfaces behind the abutment means.

is swung toclosed position with the short end engaging as aforesaid.

10. A fastener comprising a holderopen at one end to'receive a cord or the like, a link pivoted to the holder and having a cord gripping edge, a lever pivoted to the link near one end, the short end of the lever carrying a surface engaging behind a surface on the holder, and the pivotal connection between link and lever being forced past dead center position when ,the long end of the lever is swung to closed position with the short end engaging as aforesaid, one of said surfaces constituting a cam to supplement the lever action.

11. A fastener comprising a hollow holder open at one end and thence continuously open along one side toward the other end so that the end of a cord or the like may be inserted into the holder through the open side to a position wherein it extends outwardly through said open end, and toggle means for clamping the cord against the-opposite side of the holder.

Signed by me at Providence, Rhode Island, 

